Featured Image Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, US News, News, World News
Rhianna Benson
Topics: Donald Trump, US News, News, World News
A remark Donald Trump secretly uttered about Russian president Vladimir Putin during a political summit yesterday has gone viral.
The US leader hosted a number of European politicians at the White House on Monday (18 August) - including French President Emmanuel Macron, British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy - to discuss his recent get together with Putin.
Also in attendance were Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, German chancellor Friedrich Merz, Finnish president Alexander Stubb, as well as EU commissioner President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Trump, 79, met with his Russian counterpart in Anchorage, Alaska over the weekend for their first in-person meeting since 2019, in a bid to discuss a possible end to 72-year-old Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
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Despite the pair later agreeing that 'no deal' was reached during the high-stakes meeting, Trump later told press they have a 'very good chance of getting there'.
He added: "We spoke very sincerely, I think he wants to see it done."
Putin also heaped praise onto the Republican for his 'friendly' manner, as well as his 'understanding that Russia has its own national interests'.
Following the meeting, Trump hosted several other world leaders in Washington, D.C., filling them in on his progress.
During this follow-up get-together, however, the American was caught in a cringe-worthy hot mic moment whilst whispering to Macron in the White House's East Room.
Have a listen below:
Trump leaned in to the French President, apparently having had no idea his mic was switched on.
"I think he wants to make a deal,” he quietly told the Frenchman. "I think he wants to make a deal for me."
Trump went on to check: "Do you understand? As crazy as it sounds."
Thankfully, despite being caught out, the American went on to double down on this claim, telling journalists at a press conference of Putin: "I’ve known him for a long time, I’ve always had a great relationship with him.
He continued: "I think President Putin wants to find an answer, too. We’ll see."
Meanwhile, when Macron was quizzed about the hot mic moment by NBC, he said: "At the end of the day, if we have a deal which is compliant with a long standing and robust peace, this is great news. And your president indeed is very confident about the capacity he has to get the deal done, which is good news for all of us."
Trump's hot mic moment comes after body language expert Nicola Hickling analysed his touch down into Alaska, as well as his first handshake with Putin over the weekend.
Speaking to The Sun, the lip reader claimed that the two politicians enjoyed an amicable first meeting, and spoke in cooperative tones from the get-go - so much so, that she believes Trump's first word to Putin was: "Finally."
After clasping the Russian's hand, Putin is then said to have told the American: "I am here to help you."
"I'll help you," Trump is said to have replied.
Putin then reportedly responded with something along the lines of: "All they need is to ask… I will bring it to a rest."
Trump supposedly replied: "I hope it does."